2 Broads With Alotta Sound kick off concert series

June 28, 2012

by Jaired Crofut

2 Broads With Alotta Sound will headline the first of six free
concerts at the Elk’s Club Lawn at the corner of Yates and South Allen streets. The Pine Hills Summer Concert Series begins Monday, July 16th at 7 p.m. The duo will play a variety of covers that from the ‘40s to the present.

“We do standards as well,” said Diane Geddes, the group’s keyboardist. “We do covers, we do originals. We do everything from pop to dirty blues.”

Also in the group is Geddes’ partner, Quency Rene, otherwise referred to as “Q.” They have been together more than 10 years.

“What first struck me when I first saw them, was how genuine they were,” said Frank Palmeri, a local fan of the group. “I just can’t say enough good things about them— they are one of the Capitals Region’s best kept secrets.”

The pair met in 1997 at a music shop that has since gone out of business in Colonie Center called Music World. At the time Geddes was giving private keyboard lessons while Rene was shopping.

Over the next year the two began corresponding, eventually playing out.

“We’re like best friends now,” said Geddes. “It was fun to have a friend who was also interested in the same things you were, music. It was just good professionally and personally.”

The group’s dubbed comedian, Rene, said: “She’s short, and I have an affinity for short people.”

Mostly the duo performs live, although they are working on an all-original album, scheduled for release next year. They joke about naming the new album ‘nothing’s cookin’ in the kitchen.’ Concert goers can expect to hear some of the duo’s original songs at the July 16 concert.

The event is sponsored by The Beautify Upper Madison Project, otherwise known as BUMP, and the Elk’s club. BUMP’s mission is to beautify, promote and celebrate the Upper Madison neighborhood as a model of city living.

According to Virginia Hammer, a prominent member of BUMP as well as the Pine Hills Neighborhood association, the project evolved out of an initiative by city residents to save the Madison Theater almost five years ago.

In addition to the summer concert series, BUMP has showcased artwork on upper Madison next to the Madison theater, andcreated the upper Madison Street fair.

Still, despite BUMP’s efforts to beautify the Pine Hills neighborhood, there are some doubts about attracting people to the summer concert series. The series were held last year, but as Hammer remembers not a lot of people came.

“One of the biggest obstacles is getting the word out,” said Hammer.

Earlier this year Hammer spoke with representatives from the Musician’s Union, who expressed interest in getting performers from the Union to play at the summer series. To Hammer, the idea sounded great. But there weren’t a lot of funds to pay for unionized musicians.

“We really don’t have a lot of money,” said Hammer. “We’d love to hire union people but we just can’t afford it.” Normally BUMP pays its musicians about $30 for the summer concert series.

Despite its lack of resources, 2 Broads With Alotta Sound worked with BUMP to finance the first concert. The band offered to play for a special deal.

“They came up with a proposal,” said Hammer.

BUMP usually raises money for the concert through donations and a 50/50 raffle, where the winner takes home half of the proceeds while the rest goes to finance BUMP.

“A lot of people like it because you have a chance of winning something,” said Hammer. “Last year we pretty much broke even.”

The free concert starts at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. Brett Sears and Sean Madden, who play a mix of folk, rock and alternative music, as well as banjo player Holland Hopson, will be performing the following concerts on July 23 and 30, respectively.

Although outside alcohol is prohibited, the Elk’s club bar will also be open and set up in a reserved area for consumption.

In case of rain the concert will be moved inside.

“If I’m in town, I’ll certainly go,” said Palmeri.

“They should expect a variety of music, they should expect a little goofiness,” said Rene. “We like to play with people and like them to have them play along with us.” -30-